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Valley of the Dolls

A journey into the heart of pinkness: the upcoming Barbie convention.

A A A Comments By Laura Bond Thursday, May 23 2002

"I think maybe people in the world tend to focus on the negative, on the overly serious," Ballard says. "I've had some people come over -- we're talking really cynical people -- who once they get here just want to touch everything and play and know all about it. I can't imagine anyone, unless they are opposed to Barbie for political reasons, not responding in a positive way.

"I honestly have never met someone who was opposed to Barbie. Of course, I don't hang out in Boulder much."

John Johnston

Debbie Baker (left) and Shantel Ballard, all dolled up at Baker's home in Golden.

John Johnston

Thinking inside the box: Ballard displays her favorite "girls."

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Barbie conventions provide the doll's primarily female fan base a chance to cut loose, be their fanatical selves, share in a ritual that's almost a modern form of goddess worship. "It's like taking a trip to Hawaii with your best girlfriends," Ballard says. "We party. We have a good time. You make friends with people you know you'll stay in touch with. Because it's not just women bonding; it's women bonding about Barbie. I would say the friends I've met through Barbie are as important as my collection itself."

As for their friendship, Ballard and Baker are confident that it will endure after all of the conventioneers have packed up their pink suitcases and headed home.

"I'm sure we'll still call each other every day," Ballard says. "But, my God, what will we talk about?"

Baker looks around her basement, absentmindedly stroking the hair of a doll in her lap. "I guess we'll be more like normal people," she says. "We'll talk about our husbands. We'll talk about dogs."